Target device



G. PISANO TARGET bgv cm Filed Nov. 5, 1925 I pINYENTOR M AIMAAIO BY M 2w ATTORNEY Patented May 31, 1927.

GENEROSO IPISANO, OI ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

TARGET nnvrcn.

Application filed November The object of the present invention is to provide a novel target for shooting: and which is especially adapted for exhibition shooting in which a portion of the target is adapted to be broken or destroyed when struck by a bullet. The device is very well adapted for theatrical exhibitions as it may be transported without injury, and the parts which are destroyed by being struck may be quickly and cheaply renewed, and may be carried in almost any quantity in very compact form. In exhibitions, and especially for theatrical purposes, marksnien have resorted to various targets in which a part is E destroyed by the bullet and one common form of such devices has been an electrically lighted candlestick or lamp in which the bulb of the lamp is destroyed by the bullet. However, this practice is costly owing to the destruction of the electric bulbs; and they take up considerable space in transporting as part of the properties of the exhibitor. U11 der the present invention I employ a very inexpensive element which may be substituted for the electric bulb and still have the same appearance as an electric bulb at the distance from which the audience views the same; and this element is also adapted to be broken or destroyed like a bulb to give the same effect as if an electric bulb were destroyed. \Vhile this element is in place, prior to being shot at, it is made to appear as a lighted electric bulb by means of llZl1b transmitted through the same from a concealed electric bulb, which latter is unafiected by the shot which breaks the destructible element. In the preferred form of my invention the destructible element consists of an inflatable rubber balloon adapted to be blown up to the appropriate size to represent an incandescent bulb and so placed as to have the light rays from the lighting: element transmitted therethrough. These intlatable elements may be carried in deflated condition so that they are very compact and are also very inexpensive. Other objects will be apparent from the following detailed description of my invention.

In the drawing forming part of this our plication,

Figure 1 is an elevation of one form of the invention,

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view thereof taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, and

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the 5, 1925. Serial No. 67,119.

.to which the invention is applied may be varied within the scope of my invention. For instance. it may consist of a candlestick forming: part of a large chandelier, or it may be part of a wall bracket, or it may be an individual candlestickadapted to be set upon a table. It will also be apparent that the fixture may be in the form of a lamp. In the drawing; I have shown a base 1 adapted to rest on any support. and it is connected by means of the plug 2 and the cord 3 with an electric socket so that the illu1ninating lamp or electric bulb within the fixture may be lighted for the purpose herein set forth. There is extended upwardly from the base 1 a cylindrical member 4 which I prefer to have represent a candlestick. althouch, as above set forth, the shape and design may be varied to suit the taste. Within this cylindrical body I provide a socket 5 attached to the base 1 and anordinary electric bulb 6 is screwed into'this socket and it is or such shape as to lie within the bore 7 of the cylindrical member lathe upper end of theelectric bulb terminating some distance below the top edge of the cylindrical member. The upper end of this cylindrical menibcr 42 is surrounded by the support for the destructible element, which support is here shown as a ring 8 having; a flange 9 resting on the top edge of the cylindrical member, and there extend inwardly from the ring 8 a plurality of arms 10 which carry an inner circular ring 11 provided with a central aperture 12.

Under the broad aspect oi my invention the destructihle member may be made of glass or other material adapted to be destroyed when struck by the bullet, but in the preferred form oi my invention this destructible element indicated by the reference numeral 18 consists of an inflatable rubber ball or balloon. These ballons may be carried from place to place in deflated condition and then may be inflated ready for application to the fixture, previmis to an exhibition. These balloons are "formed with a nipple extension 14 having the usual small hole through which the operator may blow air into the interior to inflate the balloon; and I prefer to insert a splint or match stick 15 through the hole of the nipple be- .fore the balloon inflated so that when it same will not be dislodged by air currents and by the heat of the lamp within the cylinder When the destructible element or balloon is attached to the fixture, as shown in Figure 1, ready for the exhibition shooting, the

light from the incandescent lamp will be projected upwardly and through the balloon, and the latter will have the same appearance, at a slight distance, as ii the balloon were an incandescent lamp, and the rubber of the balloon may be of such consistency or translucencj as to give the appearance of frosted glass. The performer shoots at the de structiblc element or balloon. and if the bullet strikes the same it is destroyed and it disappears, giving the same effect as if an incandescent bulb were struck and scattered. The value, however, ol the thing destroyed, is almost negligible, and there is no danger of broken glass being scattered about. The cylinder 4 should be oi such strength as to resist any breakage whatever in order that the incandescent lamp Within it will not be injured by the shot in case the performer should miss the actual target and strike the cylinder. The destructible elements maybe replaced very quickly.

Having described my invention, what 1 claim is: i j

1. A target device including a holder, a lamp and a destructible target member independent of said lamp, adapted to be held by said holder in" position to cause said target member to be lighted by the rays from said lamp, and in such position that a prolamp and an inflatable, translucent, target member independent of said lamp. said target member being held by said holder in posi tion to cause the transmission of light rays from said lamp through said target member and in such position that a projectile may pass entirely through said target member without striking said lamp.

at. A target device including a holder, a lamp contained within said holder and protected thereby, a destructible target member independent of said lamp and held by said holder in position to be lighted by the rays from said lamp and in such position that a projectile may pass entirely through said target member without striking said lamp. i

5.. A target device including a holder having a chamber, open at one end, a lamp contained within said chamber, a support attached to the open end of said holder and having an aperture therein, and a target member comprising an inflatable body o't rubber having a nipple and a stiffening member attached to said nipple and adapted to be passed into the aperture in said support for the purpose of holding said target member on the open end of said holder,

vwhereby the light rays from said lamp will be transmitted through the target member.

Signed at the city, county and State of New York, this 14th day of October, 1925.

' GENEROSO PISANO. 

